Clive Parkinson’s (UK) powerful performance-presentation, dis/ordered is a moving exploration of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), fuelled by the conviction that what psychiatry describes as ‘disorder’, may in fact be a legitimate response to the chaos of life. dis/ordered is part personal reflection – returning to an impoverished seaside town to make sense of the unbearable. The performance also brings to light the authentic voices of people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), questioning diagnosis and exploring the ways in which…

NeuRAtalks is a seminar series presented by NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia across a wide range of mental disorders by leading researchers in their field of study during Mental Health Week 2017. The aim of NeuRAtalks is to provide the community with the opportunity to engage with some of Australia’s leading neuroscientists to learn more about the research work being undertaken at NeuRA, and how this work is leading the way in finding discoveries, to cure and conquer the most…

The presentation is developed from the research about depression and suicidality, and how imagining another future for the self can be considered as a possible strategy to move away from depression. This then allows another, more productive self-narrative to develop which changes the way we view our selves and the world around us. The presentation will include a slideshow of images (photographs and artwork) and supporting quotes from academic research.

NeuRAtalks is a seminar series presented by NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia across a wide range of mental disorders by leading researchers in their field of study during Mental Health Week 2017. The aim of NeuRAtalks is to provide the community with the opportunity to engage with some of Australia’s leading neuroscientists to learn more about the research work being undertaken at NeuRA, and how this work is leading the way in finding discoveries, to cure and conquer the most…

NeuRAtalks is a seminar series presented by NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia across a wide range of mental disorders by leading researchers in their field of study during Mental Health Week 2017. The aim of NeuRAtalks is to provide the community with the opportunity to engage with some of Australia’s leading neuroscientists to learn more about the research work being undertaken at NeuRA, and how this work is leading the way in finding discoveries, to cure and conquer the most…

This will be a introduction to meditation with Dr Jonathon Page. Emphasis will be on how meditation can benefit your mental health. In this workshop you will explore the benefits of meditation on your mental health. Jonathan believes that meditation can be of great personal benefit in navigating the major challenges of life, the souring of relationships and the ravages of burnout.

As part of Mental Health Month, Wollondilly Library will be hosting author and mental health advocate Adam Schwartz. Adam Schwartz is the author of the biography 'Mum, I wish i was dead', which recounts Adam's struggle as an adolescent living with a mental illness, the impact it had on his family and the treatments he undertook to help him break free from the illness. Adam Schwartz will be providing guidance and advice for people impacted by mental illness and speaking…

NeuRAtalks is a seminar series presented by NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia across a wide range of mental disorders by leading researchers in their field of study during Mental Health Week 2017. The aim of NeuRAtalks is to provide the community with the opportunity to engage with some of Australia’s leading neuroscientists to learn more about the research work being undertaken at NeuRA, and how this work is leading the way in finding discoveries, to cure and conquer the most…

Come and join us as we join with others around Australia in celebrating Mental Health Week 2017! We will have a number of events, stalls and speakers from the Health and Fitness and Sports Industries, sharing their experiences and practical strategies for how to look after your brain and your body to maximise and manage your mental health. Our brain is our biggest asset, however, we still have a way to go to reduce the stigma around seeking help or…

Join author Kim Hodges for her raw and honest talk Flying in the Sky to Drowning in the Sea, based on the author's battle with bipolar disorder. Her confronting and at times humorous experiences challenges some of the beliefs and stigma around mental illness. Morning tea will be provided

This is a community gathering for people from any walk of life who are interested in reflections on trauma. With moderator William Verity (Walkley Award winning journalist) and panel members Jill Darville (artist in residence, Wollongong Art Gallery), Petrea King (Quest for Life Foundation), Esther McKay (NSWPolice Legacy), Chloe Hancock (Flourish Australia), Darren Wagner (ex-K9 police dog handler and psychotherapist) and Burhan Zangana (refugee community advocate). This forum complements the gallery's current exhibition by Jill Darville, which focuses on animals…

FREE WEBINAR: TRANSFORMING SHYNESS & BINGE DRINKING USING INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS - INNER PARTS THERAPY Watch this free webinar and listen in while Sandy Therry (M. Couns) helps transform a man's Shyness and Binge Drinking habit in an hour using Parts Therapy. Even if you have missed the official date, please feel free to sign up for it anyway, as everyone who signs up for it will be sent a replay of the webinar, which you can watch at any…

Debara Foran from the Black Dog Institute joins us for Mental Health Month to provide accurate information about what mood disorders are, their causes and how to spot the early warning signs of depression and bipolar disorder. She will also cover where to seek help, practical strategies for offering support to someone you are worried about, and how to build personal resilience.

Author Kim Hodges will be at Stanton Library for Mental Health Month to talk about her memoir Girl on the Edge. This is an arresting memoir of a sensitive adolescent girl growing up in a small and isolated town in regional Australia. The book captures the claustrophobia of life in this community and deftly portrays the simmering resentments that lie beneath the surface of social interactions. Kim Hodges has vividly expressed the psychological horror of a young woman who feels…

Join us for a morning of positive mental health and support. Karina our counsellor will lead the morning with tips and tricks on how to keep your mind and emotions balanced. This will be a social morning with morning tea, a time to meet other women and have a chat. Morning is Free however a $5.00 donation would be appreciated

October is Mental Health month so we invite you to discover new relationships and gain inspiration when counsellor and psychotherapist Rita Barnett discusses the importance of feeling connected and valued at home and in the office.

What is a Recovery College? Unsure if Recovery College is for you or what is involved? This two hour workshop introduces participants to the Western Sydney Recovery College and the programs it offers. Learn about how Recovery College programs support people living with a mental health condition, their carers and family members through education. Recovery College is also open to volunteers and people who work in the mental health field to learn more about mental health recovery and to come…

Are you feeling under pressure? With final exams and the HSC looming, it’s understandable if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. In fact, it’s perfectly normal. Stress and anxiety are part of the process for most people but it’s important to make sure you’re dealing with high emotions in a healthy way and reach out for help and advice when you need it. We want you to succeed. Macquarie University has sought the expert advice of thought leaders in emotional health…

In September and October 2017 Critical Perspectives in Madness Reading Group partners with The Big Anxiety to interrogate anxiety and the history of its construction as a medical condition. The group will explore literary and philosophical writings that offer diverse and subversive perspectives beyond the bio-medical model of mental distress. You’re invited to take part in the reading group as it asks questions such as What is the relationship between anxiety and discrimination? Between power and alienation? Is anxiety a…

To mark Mental Health Month, Mosman Library will present Valerie Orton, a speaker, facilitator and coach from Head Hand and Heart Management. Orton will speak about her book Everyday Resilience: Creating Calm from Chaos, that contains practical tools and tips to build one’s resilience and resources to sustain one’s whole well-being. “Having spent many years studying and learning through personal development, my values, my strengths and what is important in life, I wanted to share and help others live a…

As part of Mental Health Month the library will host mental health awareness speaker Jeremy Goodwin. Jeremy is the author of 'Mental illness sucks (But it’s not the end of the world)' and will speak about the importance of taking care of your mental wellbeing to help prevent mental illness, encouragement to seek help when you need it and his own personal journey of recovery from depression and anxiety. In addition, the library will engage a meditation specialist to run…

What makes you, you? Our sense of self comprises various facets, including our memories for important moments in the past, knowledge of facts about ourselves, as well as our personality traits and how we relate to other people. In dementia, several of these key aspects of identity can break down, leading to changes in how individuals with these conditions perceive ‘who they are’, in addition to how others may see them. This talk will explore how dementia syndromes offer us…